Green Initiatives at UTC

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) now joins other Tennessee universities in offering green initiatives on their campus. In the 2007 fall semester, UTC began collecting a “green fee” from all students enrolled in the University, aimed at improving the environmental impact of its campus operations. A UTC Environmental Task Force has been charged with the task of implementing policies and programs that impact the quality of the environment on the campus. Reducing energy consumption and waste was sited as the first step toward sustainability. With this in mind, the task force appropriated $25,000 of green fee funds to the installation of occupancy lighting sensors in classrooms and labs. The task force also designated $18,000 for the purchase of 375 blocks of Green Power Switch (GPS) through EPB of Chattanooga. By purchasing GPS blocks, UTC is helping to reduce the consumption of other forms of power generation and increase reliance on renewable, non-polluting forms of energy such as solar and wind power. Recycling is another priority for the task force. Funds were approved for an on-campus recycling service and for the purchase of recycling containers.